Carrier and Method for Providing Deployable Protection

ABSTRACT

A carrier provides deployable protection for protecting a user. The carrier includes a shell with an internal compartment and an external pair of shoulder straps. An armored panel has a pair of tethers each with an anchored end secured inside the internal compartment of the shell. A flexible pair of extractors can lie in front of the shell and each has a proximal end attached to the armored panel. Using separate hands the user can grasp the pair of extractors at a position in front of the user, and use the extractors to manually extract the armored panel up out of the internal compartment. The pair of tethers can then be draped over the shoulders of the user while positioning the armored panel over the chest of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to protective armor, and in particular, to protective armor that can be deployed when needed.

2. Description of Related Art

Known carriers such as backpacks typically employ a fabric shell having one or more compartments with upper openings that can be closed with a zipper, a flap snaps, etc. These backpacks will have right and left shoulder straps that each connect between the top and the bottom of the fabric shell. Some backpacks may also have a waist belt (and/or chest belt) that buckles in front and is connected between the shoulder straps (or bands that connect the shoulder straps to the bottom of the fabric shell).

Protective armor such as bulletproof vests are often worn by military or police personnel that may be entering dangerous situations. These vests can protect individuals from bullets, stab wounds, shrapnel, and the like. The degree of protection depends upon the type of armor employed in the vest. Where quick movements are needed in a tactical situation, soft, relatively flexible armor may be used. Where relatively lethal rounds are expected, the armor may be a hard and relatively thick ballistic plate designed to stop high caliber rounds or bullets from a high velocity rifle. The National Institute of Justice (NU) Standard-0101.06 regulates the benchmarks for what constitutes effective body armor.

When discussing soft armor, this specification will be referring to armor that has some degree of flexibility, but will not necessarily be limited to the NIJ Standards. When discussing ballistic plates, this specification will be referring to plates that are relatively thick and have a greater ability to stop bullets than soft armor, but will not necessarily be limited to the NIJ Standards.

Bulletproof vests may be configured to protect the torso in front, and may also have sections to protect the back and the side areas in order to shield the vital organs of the wearer. The vests may also have devices for holding various implements (weapons, radios, etc.). A common holding system are the molle-type holders, which are typically a series of parallel fabric strips that are stitched at regular intervals to provide openings for holding various implements.

In undercover operations, one may not want to reveal that he or she is wearing protective armor. In these circumstances one may wish to conceal the protective armor and deploy it only when a situation becomes dangerous.

See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,161,738; 6,419,132; 6,685,071; 9,351,557; 9,801,452; and 9,820,558; as well as US Patent Application Pub. Nos. 2009/0014490; 2015/0196077; and 2017/0332768.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a carrier with deployable protection for protecting a user. The carrier includes a shell with an internal compartment and an external pair of shoulder straps. The carrier also includes an armored panel having a pair of tethers each with an anchored end secured inside the internal compartment. Also included is a flexible pair of extractors adapted to lie in front of the shell and each having a proximal end attached to the armored panel.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention a method is provided for deploying an armored panel. The armored panel is connected by a pair of tethers to the inside of an internal compartment of a carrier. The method employs a flexible pair of extractors each having a proximal end attached to the armored panel. The method includes the step, performed by a user, of using separate hands to grasp the pair of extractors at a position in front of the user, and manually extracting the armored panel up out of the internal compartment using the pair of extractors. The method also includes the step of draping the pair of tethers over the shoulders of the user while positioning the armored panel over the chest of the user.

By employing apparatus and methods of the foregoing type, one can achieve an improved protective carrier and an improved method for deploying protection. In a disclosed embodiment, an armored panel is initially stored in a compartment of a backpack. The proximal end of the disclosed armored panel is tethered to the floor of the backpack's compartment. The opposite end of the armored panel is connected to a flexible pair of extractors that are releasably held on the backpack's shoulder straps. The extractors can be manually pulled off the shoulder straps and lifted to pull the armored panel out of the backpack's compartment to the extent allowed by the tethers on the proximal end of the armored panel. When the panel is fully extracted, the tethers can be draped over the user's shoulders so that the armored panel can be suspended in front of the user's torso.

This disclosed armored panel is fitted with soft armor, but can also hold a ballistic plate in a pocket whose opening is covered by a releasable flap. This flap has an external hook and loop fastener that can hold a placard (e.g. a sign imprinted with the legend “POLICE”). The front of the armored panel can also be fitted with molle-type strips that can be used to hold a variety of implements.

In addition to the compartment that is used for holding the armored panel, the disclosed backpack may have an additional enclosure that can hold a ballistic plate.

When the armored panel is stored in the backpack's compartment, the upper mouth of the compartment can be closed by releasable closure devices. These closure devices prevent unauthorized access to the compartment and also conceal the existence of the armored panel.

In one embodiment, one edge of the compartment's upper mouth has a number of spaced fabric loops that interdigitate with complementary fabric loops on the opposite edge of the opening. In that embodiment, a pair of laces are threaded through the interdigitated fabric loops, one lace going through a right group and the other lace going through a left group of the fabric loops. The proximal ends of the laces are separately attached to respective ones of the pair of extractors. Accordingly, when the extractors are pulled, they pull the pair of laces from the interdigitated loops thereby opening the backpack's compartment. Thus, the backpack's compartment is opened at the same time that the extractors are being used to pull the armored panel out of the compartment.

Instead of interlaced loops, another embodiment has complementary magnets on opposite edges of the opening to the backpack's compartment. In this case, pulling the armored panel by pulling the extractors will disconnect the magnets in order to open the compartment. In still another embodiment, the opposite edges of the opening to the backpack's compartment can be releasably closed by hook and loop fasteners. In yet another embodiment, the opposite edges of the opening to the backpack's compartment can be releasably closed by a number of male/female connectors; e.g. a cylindrical male connector that can snap into a female connector in the form of a split sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above brief description as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a carrier associated with a related protective method, in accordance with principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the carrier of FIG. 2 with a flap folded back to reveal the closure devices at the upper mouth of an internal compartment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a corner portion of the carrier of FIG. 1 with a flap folded back to reveal the closure devices at one end of the upper mouth of the internal compartment;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the carrier of FIG. 3 but with lacing removed to open the upper mouth of the internal compartment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an armored panel partially extracted from the carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is front view of a user wearing the carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is front view of a user that has lifted the extractors of FIG. 1 from the shoulder straps;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a user grasping the extractors of FIG. 1 at shoulder height;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a user that has fully extracted the armored panel of FIG. 6 and lifted it overhead;

FIG. 11 is a front view of a user that has placed the armored panel of FIG. 10 in the working, deployed position;

FIG. 12 is a detailed, fragmentary view of closure devices that are an alternative to that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a detailed, fragmentary view of closure devices that are an alternative to that of FIGS. 3 and 12; and

FIG. 14 is a detailed, fragmentary view of a closure device that is an alternative to that of FIGS. 3, 12, and 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, carrier 10 is shown in the form of a backpack having an upper strap 14 attached to fabric shell 12. The lower inside portion of shell 12 has a padded region 16. Located at opposite ends of region 16 are an opposite pair of distally located flaps 18 and 20 that are designed to embrace a user laterally.

A pair of shoulder straps 30 and 32 are attached to the top of shell 12 adjacent to strap 14. The lower end of shoulder straps 30 and 32 each have separate respective strips 46 and 52 for supporting slide buckles 48 and 54, respectively. Extending from buckles 48 and 54 are separate respective belts 50 and 56, which attach to the outside of flaps 18 and 20, respectively.

Extending from flaps 18 and 20 are separate belts 22 and 26, which terminate in socket 24 and pronged element 28, respectively. When the user dons carrier 10 by using shoulder straps 30 and 32, elements 24 and 28 can be snapped together to enclose the user's waist and bring flaps 18 and 20 laterally around the user. Similarly, chest-level straps 34 and 38 extending from shoulder straps 30 and 32, respectively, can be snapped together by using their respective socket 36 and pronged element 44. See FIG. 7 illustrating user U wearing carrier 10.

In FIGS. 1-4, the outer side of shoulder straps 30 and 32 each have hook and loop fastening strips (strip 62 visible in FIG. 1 and strip 64 being visible in FIG. 6). Releasably attached to these hook and loop fastening strips 62 and 64 are a flexible pair of extractors 58 and 60 (FIGS. 1-4). The extractors 58 and 60 are flexible strips that terminate in distal loops 58A and 60A, respectively. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the proximal ends of extractors 58 in 60 travel under flap 71 and into upper mouth M of an internal compartment (compartment described further hereinafter). Mouth M is shown closed in FIG. 3, and with extractors 58 and 60 traveling into the mouth.

Zipper 70 can be opened using zipper handle 70A to gain access to a proximal enclosure that can be used to hold a ballistic plate.

Lacing used to close mouth M of the internal compartment is shown herein as a pair of laces 66 and 68 whose proximal ends are attached to the underside of extractors 58 and 60, respectively. Laces 66 and 68 are shown laced through a number of releasable closure devices.

A spaced series of releasable closure devices 74A, 74B, and 74C are mounted at the outside edge of mouth M (FIG. 3), and the series continues to the right with two more spaced closure devices 74D and 74E (FIG. 4). The foregoing closure devices interdigitate with closure devices 76A, 76B, 76C, 76D, and 76E (FIGS. 3 and 4) mounted at the inside edge of mouth M. Closure devices 74A, 74B, 74C, 74D, and 74E (hereinafter devices 74) and closure devices 76A, 76B, 76C, 76D, and 76E (hereinafter devices 76) are each fabric strips that are stitched into tubes with openings at opposite ends of the tube. See for example stitching 74Cs and stitching 76Bs, which both form the tube and hold the tube in position over mouth M.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, lace 66 is shown emerging from under extractor 58 and traveling through the tubular sections of devices 74A, 76A, 74B, 76B, 74C, 76C, 74D, 76D, 74E, and 76E, in that order.

A spaced series of releasable closure devices 78A, 78B, and 78C are mounted at the outside edge of mouth M (FIG. 3), and the series continues on the left with two more spaced closure devices 78D and 78E (FIG. 6). The foregoing closure devices interdigitate with closure devices 80A, 80B, 80C, 80D, and 80E (FIGS. 3 and 6) mounted at the inside edge of mouth M. Closure devices 78A, 78B, 78C, 78D, and 78E (hereinafter devices 78) and closure devices 80A, 80B, 80C, 80D, and 80E (hereinafter devices 80) are each fabric strips that are stitched into tubes with openings at opposite ends. See for example stitching 78Cs and 80Cs, which both form the tube and hold the tube in position over mouth M.

In FIG. 3, lace 66 is shown travelling away from extractor 60 and passing through the tubular sections of devices 78A, 80A, 78B, 80B, 78C, and 80C, in that order. It will be appreciated that lace 68 then passes through the tubular sections of devices, 78D, 80D, 78E, and 80E, in that order. See FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, previously mentioned laces 66 and 68 have been removed from releasable closure devices 74, 76, 78, and 80. Consequently, upper mouth M is shown open to expose internal compartment C. Compartment C fully extends throughout shell 12 and bottoms out at a lower floor F.

Compartment C is shown containing an armored panel 82. Panel 82 is entirely inside compartment C in FIG. 5, and is partially extracted in FIG. 6. As explained further hereinafter, this extraction is accomplished by pulling on extractors 58 and 60. Armored panel 82 has an opposite pair of flaps 82A and 82B located at the distal end of the panel. As described further hereinafter, flaps 82A and 82B can embrace the user laterally, at a position adjacent the user's waist. Armored panel 82 is fabricated with permanent soft armor.

To facilitate an understanding of the principles associated with the foregoing apparatus, its operation will be briefly described. In FIG. 7 shoulder straps 30 and 32 are shown draped over the shoulders S of a user U. While not visible in this view, it will be understood that previously mentioned shell 12 (FIG. 1) is positioned dorsally behind user U. As previously described, shoulder-level straps 34 and 36 are connected together between the shoulder straps 30 and 32. Also, previously mentioned straps 22 and 26 are snapped together to pull flaps 18 and 20 inwardly to a position around the waist of the user U. In addition, extractors 58 and 60 are shown secured in a prominent position atop shoulder straps 30 and 32.

In FIG. 8, using both hands H, the user U has grasped the ends of extractors 58 and 60 and lifted them off shoulder straps 30 and 32. In FIG. 9 the user's hands H have been repositioned to grasp extractors 58 and 60 further down their length.

Referring to FIG. 10, user U has lifted both hands H, causing extractors 58 and 60 to fully extract armored panel 82 to a position entirely outside the previously mentioned compartment (compartment C of FIG. 6). The proximal ends of extractors 58 and 60 are shown secured to previously mentioned flaps 82A and 82B.

At the time of extraction, laces 66 and 68, which are attached to extractors 58 and 60, are pulled away from the compartment's mouth (mouth M of compartment C of FIG. 6). Consequently, laces 66 and 68 are no longer laced through the releasable closure devices (devices 74, 76, 78, and 80 of FIGS. 3-6). Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, armored panel 82 is free to exit compartment C through open mouth M.

As shown in FIG. 10, the proximal edge of armored panel 82 is connected to tethers 84 and 86. Tethers 84 and 86 extend into the previously mentioned compartment (compartment C of FIG. 5), and are anchored to the compartment's floor (floor F of FIG. 5). These terminated ends of tethers 84 and 86 are herein referred to as anchored ends. Armored panel 82 is shown in FIG. 10 containing an optional ballistic plate 88.

Referring to FIG. 11, previously mentioned tethers 84 and 86 are shown draped over the shoulders of user U, and running atop shoulder straps 30 and 32. Accordingly, armored panel 82 is positioned over the chest of user U (that is, positioned anteriorly and thoracically).

The front of armored panel 82 has a flap 90 that can be lifted to gain access to a pocket that can be used to hold the previously mentioned ballistic plate (plate 88 of FIG. 10). Flap 90 has a hook and loop fastener 92 that may be used as a fastening device to hold a placard bearing a legend such as “POLICE.”

The front of armored panel 82 is shown with five fabric strips 94 with periodic stitching, allowing them to function as molle-type holders.

When worn as shown in FIG. 11, a bullet, knife blade, or shrapnel striking armored panel 82 will be stopped by the panel's built-in soft armor or by optional ballistic plate 88 inside the panel. Side flaps 82A and 82B may be similarly armored to protect the user's flank. These flaps may be secured by Velcro® fasteners to side flaps 18 and 20 (FIG. 10). Also, if a ballistic plate has been installed in shell 12 (through zipper 70), the user will be protected from threats coming from behind.

Referring to FIG. 12, the illustrated closure devices are an alternate to those previously illustrated. In particular, the opposite edges of mouth M′ correspond to the previously illustrated mouth (mouth M of FIG. 5). Alternate, releasable closure devices are shown as male connectors 96 and female connectors 98. Male connector 96 is a cylindrical knob extending past the edge of mouth M′ and attached to the mouth by radial flange 96A Female connector 98 is a split cylindrical sleeve extending past the edge of mouth M′ and attached to the mouth by radial flange 98A.

Connectors 96 and 98 are shown separated (front pair) and snapped together (rear pair). Initially, the male and female connectors 96 and 98 are all snapped together to close mouth M′ An armored panel (e.g., the panel 82 of FIG. 6) can be pulled up to pass through mouth M′ and the passage of the panel will cause connectors 96 and 98 to snap apart.

Referring to FIG. 13, the illustrated closure devices are an alternate to those previously illustrated. In particular, the opposite edges of mouth M″ correspond to the previously illustrated mouth (mouth M of FIG. 5) The alternate, releasable closure devices are shown as a plurality of separate magnetic elements 100 on the right edge of mouth M′ and a plurality of separate magnetic elements 104 on the left edge of mouth M′.

Magnetic elements 100 are attached to the upper face of overhanging tab 102 whose proximal portion is attached to mouth M′. Magnetic elements 104 are attached to the lower face of overhanging tab 106 whose proximal portion is attached to mouth M′. Magnetic elements 100 and 104 are shown as rectangular slabs but can have different shapes in other embodiments.

Magnetic elements 100 and 104 are shown separated (front pair) and connected together (rear pair). Initially, the magnetic elements 101 and 104 are all connected together to close mouth M′. An armored panel (e.g., the panel 82 of FIG. 6) can be pulled up to pass through mouth M′ and the passage of the panel will cause elements 101 and 104 to snap apart.

Referring to FIG. 14, mouth M″ is an alternate to the previously illustrated mouths of FIGS. 6, 12, and 13 (mouths M and M′). In this embodiment the edges of mouth M″ partially overlap. This overlapping region is fitted with a complementary pair of hook and loop fastening strips 108 and 110. Accordingly, mouth M″ can be closed by pressing together fastening strips 108 and 110. An armored panel (e.g., the panel 82 of FIG. 6) can be pulled up to pass through mouth M″ and the passage of the panel will force strips 108 and 110 apart to open mouth M″.

It is appreciated that various modifications may be implemented with respect to the above described embodiments. The releasable closure devices may employ various snaps, hooks, adhesives, tongue/groove joints, etc. Some embodiments can employ a different number of enclosures beside the compartment for holding the armored panel. The armored panel may permanently carry a ballistic plate, or may be designed to carry only soft armor. Some carriers may employ a crotch strap or may have sleeves for encompassing a portion of the user's arms. In some embodiments supplementary extractors may be used to extract supplementary armored panels having different levels of protection. In some embodiments the armored panel or the carrier's shell may have devices for holding firearms, ammunition, etc. Some embodiments may employ a loudspeaker that is used to announce the presence of the armored personnel.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

1. A carrier with deployable protection for protecting a user, comprising: a shell with an internal compartment and an external pair of shoulder straps; an armored panel having a pair of tethers each with an anchored end secured inside the internal compartment; and a flexible pair of extractors adapted to lie in front of the shell and each having a proximal end attached to the armored panel.
 2. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the pair of extractors are positionable to extend away from the internal compartment to a spaced pair of prominent positions in front of the shell, the pair of extractors being manually movable away from the pair of prominent positions.
 3. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the pair of extractors are positionable to extend away from the internal compartment to a spaced pair of prominent positions along the pair of shoulder straps.
 4. A carrier according to claim 3 wherein the pair of extractors are releasably attached to the pair of shoulder straps.
 5. A carrier according to claim 4 wherein each of the pair of extractors terminates in a distal loop.
 6. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the pair of tethers are sized to allow the armored panel to move from a position entirely inside the internal compartment to a position entirely outside the internal compartment.
 7. A carrier according to claim 6 wherein the pair of tethers are deployable to drape over both shoulders of the user and suspend the armored panel anteriorly and thoracically.
 8. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the internal compartment has an upper mouth.
 9. A carrier according to claim 8 wherein the internal compartment has a plurality of releasable closure devices distributed about the upper mouth.
 10. A carrier according to claim 8 wherein the internal compartment has a plurality of openings distributed about the upper mouth.
 11. A carrier according to claim 10 comprising lacing adapted to be laced through the plurality of openings at the upper mouth of the internal compartment in order to releasably close the upper mouth.
 12. A carrier according to claim 11 wherein the lacing comprises a pair of laces each having a proximal end separately connected to a respective one of the pair of extractors.
 13. A carrier according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of releasable closure devices comprise a plurality of magnetic elements for releasably closing the upper mouth.
 14. A carrier according to claim 8 comprising an opposing pair of hook and loop fasteners at the upper mouth for releasably closing the upper mouth.
 15. A carrier according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of releasable closure devices comprise a plurality of pairs of male and female connectors.
 16. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the internal compartment has a floor, each of the anchored ends of the pair of tethers being attached to the floor of the internal compartment.
 17. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the armored panel has an opposite pair of distally located flaps arranged to embrace the user laterally.
 18. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the armored panel has a pocket containing a ballistic plate
 19. A carrier according to claim 18 wherein the armored panel comprises: a plurality of molle holders; and a fastening device for releasably holding a placard.
 20. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the shell has alongside the internal compartment an enclosure for holding a ballistic plate.
 21. A method for deploying an armored panel that is connected by a pair of tethers to the inside of an internal compartment of a carrier, the method employing a flexible pair of extractors each having a proximal end attached to the armored panel, the method comprising the steps, performed by a user, of: using separate hands to grasp the pair of extractors at a position in front of the user; manually extracting the armored panel up out of the internal compartment using the pair of extractors; and draping the pair of tethers over the shoulders of the user while positioning the armored panel over the chest of the user.
 22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the carrier has a pair of shoulder straps, the method comprising the steps of: initially securing the pair of extractors to different respective ones of the shoulder straps; and lifting the extractors from the shoulder straps before the step of manually extracting the armored panel.
 23. A method according to claim 21 wherein the internal compartment has an upper mouth that is initially closed by lacing, wherein the step of manually extracting the armored panel is performed while contemporaneously withdrawing the lacing from the upper mouth of the internal compartment.
 24. A method according to claim 21 wherein the internal compartment has an upper mouth that is initially closed by magnetic elements, wherein the step of manually extracting the armored panel is performed while contemporaneously releasing the magnetic elements in order to open the upper mouth of the internal compartment.
 25. A method according to claim 21 wherein the internal compartment has an upper mouth that is initially closed by a plurality of interconnected pairs of male and female connectors, wherein the step of manually extracting the armored panel is performed while contemporaneously disconnecting each of the pairs of male and female connectors in order to open the upper mouth of the internal compartment.
 26. A method according to claim 21 comprising the step of: inserting a ballistic plate inside the armored panel. 